Author Archives: Cecelia Dowdy

Vanilla Pudding And Shrimp Fried Rice

3 Replies

If you try these recipes, or have made similiar recipes, leave a comment and let me know what you think about these foods. Do you like pudding or stir-fried rice? Have you ever tried to make these foods before?

Here are a couple of recipes that I recently made for my family:

Vanilla Pudding
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk (I used lowfat milk)
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened (I used Kerrygold butter)
2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a bowl with a wire whisk. Place the mixture into a 2-quart saucepan. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over very low heat or over a double boiler, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir at least half of the hot mixture gradually into egg yolks; stir into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil and stir one minute; remove from heat. Stir in margarine and vanilla. Pour into dessert dishes; refrigerate. Makes 4 servings.

Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos

Cute idea: I poured the pudding into pretty coffee cups before serving. It looked really neat and I think it’s a nice, elegant way to serve pudding!

Photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos
Fried Rice
1 cup bean sprouts (I didn’t have any, so I skipped this)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used olive oil and I think I used more than 2 tablespoons)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
3 cups cold cooked white rice
1 cup of cut-up cooked pork, chicken, OR shrimp (I used two small packages of raw shrimp in the shell, not sure how much shrimp it was.)
2 green onions (with tops) sliced
2 eggs, slightly beaten
3 tablespoons soy sauce (I used low-sodium soy sauce)
Dash of white pepper

If using uncooked shrimp, steam shrimp until done and peel off the shell. I did not cut up my shrimp, I left them whole.

Rinse bean sprouts under running cold water, drain. Heat one tablespoon oil in 10-inch skillet (I used the largest iron skillet that I had but it was too small. It’s best to use a VERY LARGE SKILLET OR WOK.) until hot; rotate skillet until oil covers bottom. Cook and stir mushrooms in oil over medium heat until coated, about 1 minute. Add bean sprouts, rice, pork (or shrimp or chicken) and onions; cook and stir over medium heat, breaking up rice, until hot, about five minutes.

Push rice to side of skillet; add one tablespoon of oil to skillet. Add eggs; cook and stir over medium heat until eggs are thickened throughout but still moist. Stir eggs into rice mixture. stir in soy sauce and white pepper. Makes four servings.

Enjoy! Don’t forget to leave a comment!
~Cecelia Dowdy~

Showdown By Ted Dekker

9 Replies

Showdown by Ted Dekker

Welcome to Paradise.

Epic battles of good and evil are happening all around us.

Today that battle comes to town with the sound of lone footsteps clacking down the blacktop on a hot, lazy summer afternoon. The black-cloaked man arrives in the sleepy town of Paradise and manages to become the talk of the town within the hour. Bearing the power to grant any unfulfilled dream, he is irresistible.

Seems like bliss . . . but is it?
Or is hell about to break loose in Paradise?

***This review has a few minor spoilers.

I decided to take a break from my normal reading material to read this Ted Dekker book that’s been sitting on my shelf for awhile. I purchased it from the discount rack at Booksamillion awhile ago.

Paradise is a small, sleepy, boring town…until the new preacher, Marsuvees Black, arrives. Once Black enscounces himself within the town, he puts the entire Paradise population under his spell, with the exception of a young boy named Johnny. Johnny has witnessed Black murdering another citizen, and he can see the true colors of Black’s haunted personality. Johnny is scared, and he wants to save Paradise from Black, whom he considers a devil-like creature.

Wait a second. Do you like inspiring books? You must read Southern Comfort. It’s a haunting faith-filled tale. Tell your friends and church buddies by sharing this link. Download today! On Kindle & KU! Now, back to Showdown.

Meanwhile, up in the hills, a monastery is performing an experiment: Project Showdown. If the monks and teachers can keep a group of orphans separated from society and evil, will those children only be destined for goodness once they are released into the world, therefore becoming citizens of strong faith which could be an advantage to the rest of mankind? These orphans are not supposed to go into the dungeons, but Billy, one of the orphans, decides to break that rule after he comes under Black’s influence. As other orphans follow Billy’s footsteps, you’re drawn into a story where child writers are mesmerized by worms, worm sludge, and fictional characters. Samuel, another orphan, finds himself in the unique position of trying to sway his peers to go against evil to attempt to find their way back to the way of goodness and light.

This story did draw me in, and I thought it had a phenomenal Christian message. It shows how easily one can be swayed into evil, and while in the Devil’s evil clutches, you’re brainwashed, no longer thinking that things like murder and violence against innocent people are wrong in God’s eyes.

However, some parts of the book were utterly gross. When the kids are in the dungeon, and their flesh is destroyed by an evil rash with sores, they use worm sludge to treat their afflicted skin. Huge worms haunt the dungeon, multiplying while providing sludge treatments for the children. When the children eat the sludge…just gross is all.

Great violence and harm comes to one of the monastery’s children. It was hard for me to read about this…it just was. Although the story comes together at the end, this part will probably be hard to get through if you’re a sensitive reader.

If you like a good read with lots of supernatural elements, then this book is for you.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Soap Operas – From The Blog Archives

6 Replies

Should Christians watch soap operas?

After hearing that All My Children and One Life To Live were canceled, I felt compelled to pull this old post from my blog archives. I’ve watched All My Children before, and I used to be somewhat of a fan. However, I’ll admit that I haven’t watched it in years – too time-consuming and the storylines get too weird. I’ve also watched One Life To Life occasionally. Leave a comment answering the following question: Should Christians watch soap operas?
The other day, my husband sent me this link to an article stating that the soap opera, The Guiding Light, will be canceled after 72 YEARS ON THE AIR…this soap opera pre-dates television (I’m assuming it started as a radio show)! He sent me the article because he knows that I used to watch soap operas – but I’ve never watched The Guiding Light.

A few years ago, I blogged about soap operas here.

After I wrote that blog post (I was mostly talking about The Young And The Restless on that post) I stopped watching soap operas. I got into a time crunch and the soap operas didn’t make my TO DO list.

I started watching soap operas in high school because I was bored. I lived in a remote rural area. During the summertime, there was really no place to go. My mom didn’t drive, my dad was at work all day, I had no money, and I had no car to drive. I spent my summer days walking around the neighborhood, reading books, and watching soap operas! Since I read books so quickly – I practically inhaled them, I got most of my titles from the bookmobile that came to town every two weeks. I also fondly remember watching General Hospital while Luke and Laura fell in love and out of love. I recall watching All My Children when Greg and Jenny fell in love and evil forces strove to keep them apart. I also remember Jessie Hubbard and Angie getting together and falling in love. I’d get freaked out when these storybook romances would end, but watching these stories gave me something to do during those boring hot summer days. To top it off, I’d spend the rest of my day reading romance novels. It’s hard for me to get into the soaps nowadays, I guess, because the stories never end. They go on and on…imagine, a 72-year-old story like The Guiding Light?

I’ve sometimes dreamed of having a Christian soap opera on the air where people can talk about finding faith and forgiving others.

Do any of you watch soap operas now, or did you used to watch them? If so, which ones did you watch? Why do you like them? How long have you been watching the soaps? Do you think Christians should watch soap operas? I’ll start by saying I don’t see anything wrong with watching them as long as you don’t get too carried away…it’s kind of like, reading a secular novel or watching a movie. It’s entertainment and overall, soaps aren’t any better or worse than a lot of the other secular entertainment out there.

I enjoyed the soaps because they were entertaining and I’d get caught up in the characters’ lives. Sometimes they were placed in perilous situations and I just wanted them to get rescued! If they were hurt and in the hospital, I wanted them to recuperate and get better! But, if they died, it’s possible they could come back from the dead later! LOL!

Feel free to answer these questions and to throw in any other opinions you have about soap operas. I’m kind of anxious to hear what others have to say!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Rhythm Of Secrets By Patti Lacy

7 Replies

The Rhythm Of Secrets by Patti Lacy

Since 1955, Sheila Franklin, a talented musician, has perfectly performed the role of devout pastor’s wife, locking away her past as Sheba Alexander and Sylvia Allen. Her carefully constructed façade crumbles with a single phone call from a young Marine named Samuel, the illegitimate son she secretly put up for adoption. Samuel begs Sheila to use her government contacts to get his fiancé, Mali, a Thai prostitute, into America. A dangerous mixture of love and guilt spurs her to help her only child even though it devastates her husband Edward and exposes her questionable past. After a quarrel with Edward, Sheila and Samuel board a C-130 for Thailand and then search Bangkok’s steamy streets for a Madonna-faced prostitute. The two whisk Mali from a brothel but are seized by a warlord who considers Mali his “number one girl.” In a teak “ghost house,” Sheila discovers God’s grace and gains the freedom she needs to find her own identity—Sheila, Sylvia, and Sheba. A framed story, this novel has roots in the bohemian 1940s New Orleans French Quarter and spans three decades, including the turbulent Vietnam era.
This was a powerful, enjoyable book that I highly recommend. Sheila has secrets – secrets that she’s never exposed to her husband, a big-time pastor. He doesn’t know about her mixed parentage, or parents’ background, or about the fact that she has an illegitimate son with dark skin.

This book shows how one simple, single mistake can haunt you for years and years. I know we’re supposed to accept God’s grace for our sins, but, even when/if we do this, our sins and our bad choices can still affect our lives for a long time.

This novel also shows that it’s best to tell the truth, especially to those that you love. Don’t hide secrets, what if they come out to bite you later, causing turmoil in your current relationships?

This book also has a pretty deep inspirational message – showing that no matter how tough things get, even if it appears that we may lose our lives, it’s best to call upon the Lord, our creator, during times of trouble.

I loved the way the author truthfully showed how judgmental we can be as Christians. You know, this book had me thinking about how some Christians are quick to punish, judge, make others feel unworthy, not following the example that Christ set forth for us in the Gospels. When Sheila, the main character in Rhythm of Secrets, loses her parents and goes to live with her grandmother Mimi, she’s forced to suffer from Mimi’s judgmental attitude towards her. This attitude partially stems from Sheila’s parentage. Yet, Mimi is a Christian? Sadly, the church is filled with Mimis and it’d be great if, the next time we find ourselves judging others for their mistakes, then we should stop, and take a hard look at ourselves. What sins have we committed in our own lives?

I guarantee that this book will get a strong emotional response out of you. For me, the most emotional part happens when Sheila is forced to give up her baby, a baby that she loves fully and unconditionally. Her son’s dark skin doesn’t bother her, as her baby’s complexion is a result of her mixed parentage.

Give this book a try. If you’ve read it, let me know what you thought about the story.

I’ll top off this blog post with a question: Have you experienced a lot of judgmental Christians in your life? Did the judgmental actions affect your faith?

Many thanks to Kregel for providing me with a free review copy.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

April 2011 Book Giveaway!

30 Replies

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER! THE WINNER WAS ANNOUNCED HERE.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER! THE WINNER WAS ANNOUNCED HERE.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER! THE WINNER WAS ANNOUNCED HERE.

I’m hosting another book giveaway! ONE winner will receive the titles listed above. IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE DRAWING YOU MUST DO TWO THINGS:

#1. You must join my mailing list! You can join my mailing list here:

If you’re already on my email list, then you can skip step one.

#2. You must comment on this blog post to enter and LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR BLOG POST – IF YOU DON’T LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR BLOG POST, THEN YOU WON’T BE ENTERED INTO THE CONTEST! I need an email address so that I can contact you if you win!

I’ll be drawing the winner within the next few weeks or so! 🙂 Remember, I have the right to announce your first and last name, city and state on my blog if you win!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Reader Compared Me To Debbie Macomber! :-)

6 Replies

I received the following email recently from a reader:

Hi Cecelia ~
I must tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed Cheasapeake Weddings–John’s Quest, Milk Money and Bittersweet Memories. I don’t know which is my favorite. I’ve enjoyed them all! I love the way you write–so clean, sweet and memorable. Reminds me of Debbie Maccomber.

~Beverly Taylor~

Thanks for the awesome email, Beverly! I enjoyed hearing about how much you enjoyed my stories and I loved that you compared me to Debbie! She’s a great author, and I’ve never had anybody to compare me to her before!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Inspirational Rita Award Nominees!

5 Replies

Congrats to the following Rita Award Finalists in the RWA’s Inspirational category:

■A Convenient Wife by Anna Schmidt (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical; Tina James, editor)

■Doctor in Petticoats by Mary Connealy (Barbour Publishing; Rebecca Germany, editor)

■Finding Her Way Home by Linda Goodnight (Steeple Hill Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor)

■In Harm’s Way by Irene Hannon (Revell; Jennifer Leep, editor)

■Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist (Bethany House Publishers; David Long and Julie Klassen, editors)

■Shades of Morning by Marlo M. Schalesky (WaterBrook Multnomah; Shannon Marchese, editor)

■The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight (Steeple Hill Love Inspired; Allison Lyons, editor)

■Whisper on the Wind by Maureen Lang (Tyndale House Publishers; Stephanie Broene, editor)

■Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer and Charlene Patterson, editors)

Congrats also to the following Inspirational author who finaled in the Rita Novella Category:

■”Mountain Rose” by Cheryl St. John in To Be a Mother (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical; Patience Smith, editor)

Congrats to the following Inspirational authors for finaling in the Best First Book category:

■Firestorm by Kelly Ann Riley (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense; Tina James, editor)

■A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers; Karen Schurrer, editor)

For a list of ALL CATEGORIES, ALL FINALISTS, see RWA’s website.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

David And Saul

15 Replies

Do any of you have any insight about the relationship between Saul and David in First Samuel chapters 16 and 17?
Why would Saul be friendly with David in Chapter 16, but then not recognize him in Chapter 17? If any of you have any insight, I’d like for you to comment.
1 Samuel 16:21-23 21 So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer. 22 Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

I blogged about David and Goliath here. I recently received the following comment/question from Rita regarding that blog post (I’ve paraphrased and expanded Rita’s question):
I am in the middle of the Beth Moore bible study and have a question about the David and Goliath story. Before David killed Goliath (1 Samuel Chapter 16)he was in the service of Saul as his harp player. However, after David kills Goliath in the next chapter (1 Samuel Chapter 17) Saul asks who David is and Saul doesn’t recognize him. Any thoughts? This has troubled me while studying the life of David. Your Sister in Christ – Rita

Rita, I’ve left my response below. Not sure if this is helpful or not.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Hi, Rita. I’m glad that you stopped by Cecelia’s Christian Fiction Blog and commented. I tried to email you privately, but, your profile is marked private so I can’t see your email information. The only insight I can give regarding your question is, perhaps, although David was Saul’s harp player, perhaps some time had passed between the chapters and he no longer recognized David because he’d gotten older? Or, perhaps, he didn’t recognize David when he’d killed Goliath because he looked different – he may have looked brave and strong holding that decapitated head? I’m unfamiliar with Biblical history so, I’m not sure how often harp players interact with their superiors. I know David played the harp whenever the distressing spirits came upon Saul, to help him to feel better, and that Saul loved David, initially. So, it is puzzling as to why Saul didn’t recognize David after he killed Goliath. Your question is a valid one, I’m just afraid that I can’t provide much insight, but wish that I could. I’ll post your question on a blog entry to see if any of my blog readers know the answer.

For more insight into the relationship between Saul and David, as well as other little-known Bible facts, I encourage you to read Molly Noble Bull’s recent article on Writers’ Rest Blog. Stop by and leave a comment.